New trading regulations boost local honey, olive oil
The main idea behind new rules for product trading and service supply published on Thursday in the Government Gazette that will apply as of September 20 appears to be providing consumers with more information, while fines for those who break the law are seen dropping by up to 60 percent.
The new regulations should also bolster products of importance to the local economy, such as Greek olive oil and honey.
Honey importers, for example, will have to notify the market monitoring authorities within 10 working days of receiving imports, with the aim of reducing the phenomenon of imported honey being branded as Greek. Sector professionals point out that about one-fifth of the honey traded in Greece as Greek is actually imported from other countries, mainly from Bulgaria.
Another regulation bans restaurants from refilling bottles of olive oil on the tables from bulk supplies. Now they will have to have single-use branded bottles on their tables, while also having to inform clients about the final price of each item served. Vehicle repair shops are obliged to list the full set of services they offer complete with rates, supermarkets are banned from selling ground meat that has previously been processed and packaged, and retailers will not be allowed to defrost and sell unpacked any fish or other kind of seafood.
